ASHEVILE — The city’s first Beer Week celebration is starting with a big bump for one local brew. Highland Brewing Co.’s new Razor Wit was named one of the best beers of 2012 by Esquire magazine.

The light summer brew was one of two dozen beers given the national attention at Esquire.com. It was the only North Carolina brew on the list, but Esquire also included beers from New Belgium (which is building in Asheville), Oskar Blues (which is building in Brevard) and Terrapin (from Athens, Ga.).

“It’s wonderful to get the national attention,” said Highland Brewing founder Oscar Wong. “The timing is exquisite. We are rather proud of it.” The beer will will be served tonight at the Highland Brewing tasting room, during the opening event of Asheville Beer Week, a celebration of the city’s craft brew scene. Highland is holding a 4-7 p.m. fundraising event for the family of New Hampshire brewery worker Ben Harris, who was killed in a keg explosion accident. His cousin Jamie DeJohn works at Highland.

Beer Week includes more than 80 announced events through June 3, with more celebrations popping up spontaneously, said celebration organizer Mike Rangel of Asheville Brewing Co.

“We want this to be a celebration of Asheville as Beer City,” a title that has been won in an online poll for four consecutive years. Tthis year, it was a tie with Grand Rapids, Mich.